JPS61500399A - Central station automatic meter reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Central station automatic meter reading device Background of the invention The present invention provides a method for receiving utility usage information over multiple telephone lines. and equipment. More specifically, multiple interface devices A method and apparatus for receiving utility usage information in the form of an alternating current display signal from each of these interface devices has a different telephone line and at least both are combined into one utility monitoring device.

Other devices that receive data from telephone lines include, for example - Dum There is an apparatus disclosed in U.S. Re. Patent No. 26,331, et al.

Dumont-type devices call out individual installed instruments.

To do this, use the telephone company's leak testing equipment. Once the installed instruments Once the meter information is released, it is sent through the telephone line to the central telephone office, but... Such devices have several drawbacks. For this purpose, such a device is It is undesirable to use it for its intended purpose.

First, such devices must be operable using the telephone company's leak testing equipment. is required, and such leak testing equipment should be retrofitted with new leak testing equipment. This is possible, but it requires significant additional investment. Also, all the phones Not all companies have the same type of leak testing equipment. Therefore, various Instruments and readouts of various configurations are available to accommodate various types of leak testing equipment. I have to devise a new location.

Second, such devices require a power source. That is, if the meter is installed be powered by a locally available power source or an installed meter. Either each device receives power from a battery. Because power is required Moreover, such equipment is expensive and difficult to maintain. Power outage at facility location This may cause the device to stop functioning.

Third, the invention by K. Dumont requires synchronous data output on the telephone line. . This synchronization data is used by the installed instrument to transmit additional synchronization data over the telephone line. request that it be sent. If either this synchronous data or synchronous instrument data is short miscellaneous If it is temporarily interrupted by a sound pulse, this is a common occurrence on telephone lines. However, the instrument data will be lost.

Another device that utilizes sending data through telephone lines is a US specialty named Pettia. No. 3,922.490. Pettis (Petti8) The invention is a direct current device in which several resistors are cut between the tip and ring of a telephone line. can be replaced. By changing the combination of resistors connected to the telephone line, The current drawn out is detected at the central telephone office and in this way the situation is communicated. In Petsteis' invention, the utility meter typically The pointer for the lowest digit of the numeric value indicates that the position currently occupied by this boi/ri is its rotation. Turn it on or off depending on whether it's half way through or not.

This closing or opening of the switch reduces the resistance between the telephone wires. The value changes. This change is detected at the central station and the number of transitions for this change is accumulated, This causes the instrument to be read out.

Of course, Betsteis' invention, which is a DC device, has nothing to do with the invention by the applicant. Not worth it. The invention by the applicant is intended to be transmitted in the form of alternating current signals through multiple telephone lines. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for receiving received data.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,709 to Cosgrove et al. Also discloses an apparatus capable of monitoring a plurality of resistors placed between live telephone lines. are doing. As in the case of U.S. Patent No. 5,922,490, 1 This invention monitors only data transmitted by changes in direct current, and not through telephone lines. This invention is completely unrelated to the applicant's invention of monitoring AC signals using a computer.

None of the foregoing prior art techniques address the transmitted and received alternating current data signals. It is possible to continuously monitor each of multiple low impedance telephone lines. Can not. None of the above-mentioned prior art uses an interface that receives power from a telephone line. cannot receive data from the source device. None of the above prior art It is not possible to receive the exchange data during the period. None of the above prior art Do not send utility usage information using al tone signals.

Summary of the invention The method and apparatus of the present invention provides for transmitting utility usage information over multiple telephone lines. a utility meter readout device for use with at least one interface; equipment is coupled to each of the telephone lines and each of the interface equipment is are combined into one utility usage monitoring device and receive usage information from it. and at least one clear connection through each of the plurality of telephone lines. exchange usage information over that separate telephone line in response to receiving a flow interrogation signal. Multiple interface devices that send out current display signals and multiple AC display signals. Multiple digital displays of usage information from one utility usage monitor A device for receiving multiple digital display signals and a device for receiving multiple digital display signals. and a device for transmitting the information to an external interfacing device.

This interfacing device may have an instrument interface device, and This instrument interface device connects this instrument interface device from the telephone line. It has a device that supplies power to the This instrument interface device accepts AC display signals. On-hook telephone line current that holds the transmitting telephone line on-hook bring out some of it. This device provides power to the instrument interface device. Prevent instrument interface from operating when telephone line is off-hook It also has equipment to do. The interrogation signal that triggers a specific instrument interface device is , typically one with a frequency between 300 Hz and 3200 Hz with bursts of audio tones.

The instrument interface device converts the AC display signal into one pulse-width modulated audio signal. sent as a series of pulses. These pulses are composed of at least two different pulses. period. A device for converting an AC display signal into a digital display signal is Within the pulse period duration of a series of pulses of one audio tone A device for obtaining a series of DC/positive voltage pulses proportional to the duration of the transition time between the pulse periods of a series of pulses of the tone. and an apparatus for obtaining a series of zero voltage transitions proportional to each other. these proportionate The positive voltage pulses and zero voltage transitions are then decoded in the processor circuit.

The result of this decoding is a series of digital signals, and this series of digital signals is Represents usage information from the instrument interface device. This usage information typically shall include a current utility usage index, a meter identification letter and at least one Consists of archival characters.

The alternating current display signal represents a single audio tone whose pulse width is modulated. The signal may be in the form of a tone signal. This series of dual tone signals represents a utility usage index and an instrument identification character, containing at least 12 characters. There are different dual tone signals, and each of these dual tone signals is a number between 0 and 9, including 0 and 9, the 17th Raming Sentinel, and the 17th Raming Sentinel. 27 Raming Sentinel letters, please refer to the detailed description below and the accompanying drawings. can be understood more clearly.

FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram of a utility meter reading device according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of a preferred embodiment of an instrument interface device according to the present invention. line diagram, FIG. 6 is an electric Zorok diagram of a preferred embodiment of the multiplexer device of the present invention. , FIG. 4 is an electrical block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a multiplexer device according to the present invention. , FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of another embodiment of the instrument interface device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reading out . To be more specific, the present invention interface device from a plurality of meters 16 typically located in the subscriber's premises. Apparatus and method for receiving alternating current representing utility usage information through 16 It is related to communication from each meter interface device 14 to the telephone company. Sending the display signal is a specific clear signal from the multiplexer device of telephone central office 20. Executed when a question signal is received. Appropriate instrument interface snowmaking details A description is provided in the pending U.S. Patent Application No. 502.20, filed June 8, 1983. No. 1, Meter Interface Device for AnAuto matic Meter Reading System, disclosed in °. A detailed description of the multiplexer device 20 is provided in the application filed October 21, 1983. Central United States Patent Application No. 544,110, MultiplexingSyst em for AnAutomatic Meter Reading Sys tem, disclosed in.

The AC display signal of the meter 16 read out from the meter interface device 14 is received by at least one multiplexer device 22 of the multiplexer devices 20; and in this multiplexer device the AC display signal is converted into a digital display signal. This digital display signal is then converted into a sent to.

Multiplexer equipment M'20 is typically located at the central office of the telephone company. . The telephone company uses the terminal 23 and printer 25 to collect usage information in the computer. can be called. The usage information in the computer 24 is transmitted to the high speed data line 2. 6 and low speed data line 28 to other areas. multiple The lexer device 22 typically operates at a point past the cut-off relay 27. can be connected to multiple telephone lines. Therefore, the telephone line 12 is in an off-hook state. It is always connected to the telephone line 12 even when the telephone is in a state of emergency.

However, access to one or both sides of the track is permitted.

instrument interface device A preferred embodiment of instrument interface device 14 is shown in FIG. This total Power to device interface device 14 is typically provided by telephone line 12. This is done through source 50. This power supply 50 is connected when the telephone line 12 is on-hook. Arrangements are made such that the instrument interface device 14 is inoperative for a period of time. . Additionally, this device is unipolar and can only carry on-hook battery current. , so accurate line leakage measurements can be made using a reverse battery (i.e., ring conductor against tip conductor). It can also be done using (correct). The interrogation signal detector circuit 60 is connected to the telephone line 1 Receive specific and clear interrogation signals sent through 2. This particular distinct quality When an interrogation signal is received by the interrogation signal detector circuit 60, one signal is The signal is sent to the logic circuit 70.

This control logic circuit 70 then provides utility monitoring through transistor Q4. Utility by powering device 16 and starting clock circuit 8σ A clock signal is sent to the monitoring device 16.

The output of utility monitor 16 is typically a carrier oscillator circuit 90. will pulse width modulate one of the audio carriers. Carrier oscillator circuit 10 The most advantageous carrier frequency occurring at zero is 2000 hertz. child The 2000 hertz frequency is in the middle of the band of most telephone company equipment; This frequency is large enough to allow fairly high data rates. pulse One width modulated audio signal is amplified and the output stage 100 and rise time It is coupled to telephone line 12 by a limiter and output attenuator 110 .

A preferred embodiment of the instrument interface device 14 is incorporated in this case as an associated device. Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,287 to Kullman et al. The structure is designed so that it can be used as an interface for water meters of the has been completed. Ku’l1man’s water meter is controlled by the position of four rotary switches. and monitor water usage. The position of each of these switches determines the pulse width It is sent to the output line as a modulated digital signal. (Kullman's 8th Look at the diagram. ) These digital signals contain the usage index, meter identification characters and centimeters. Represents the digital value of the flannel character. Instrument interface device 14 intersects these characters. Send by flow display signal. However, this preferred implementation of instrument interface device 14 An example would be an interface to virtually any utility monitoring device. However, it must be noted that it is configurable.

A multiplexer device 20 is shown in FIG.

Multiplexer device 20 typically includes a computer line buffer 35. Ru. This buffer is connected to multiplexer device 20 and computer 24 or other parallel It can be an interface with a digital interfacing device. Ko Computer line buffer 35 typically receives 16 bits from computer 24. plus strobe output line 32 and 8-bit input line 3 to computer 24 4 interface. This 16-bit output line 32, among other tasks, Identifying that multiplexer device 22 interrogates a particular subscriber's telephone line 12 Transmit control signals.

This 16 bit is first decomposed into 8 MUX select bits, and then the compiler The router 24 can call up to 256 different multiplexer devices 22.

Each multiplexer 22 typically accommodates 50 double-ended telephone lines. 12 or 100 single-ended telephone lines can receive data can. The additional 7 bits of a computer 24 or 16 pit signal are typically is used for individual telephone line selection codes. 16 plus strobe residue The second bit is the node between the digital interface device and the multiplexer device. ・Used for ndshaking.

Therefore, by selecting an appropriate telephone line selection code, each The 100 telephone lines connected to the plexer device 22 are individually configured by the computer 24. Can be called and controlled separately. Therefore, multiplexer device 2 In this preferred embodiment of 0, computer 24 has up to 25,600 electrical You can see that you can call the line. Also, that.

- the interface device 14 can be connected to the instrument interface device 14 and the respective instrument interface device; 14 can connect a plurality of utility usage monitoring devices 16 to them. Wear. A plurality of clear interrogation signals are sent to the machine through all connected telephone lines 12. can be sent by the multiplexer device 20, so the multiplexer device 20 This preferred embodiment allows reading out more than 100,000 instruments individually. can be done.

Can connect to up to 100 telephone lines, leaving 28 different telephone line selection codes , these are the processor circuit 120 of the multiplexer device 22 (shown in FIG. can be used as a control code for

The remaining 1 bit is typically used as a MUX reset command, thereby , the software in the particular multiplexer device 22 is restarted, and another instrument readout.

The computer 24 is connected to the cage 80 containing the multiplexer FIF 22. Since the computer 24 is typically located in a remote location, the signals and The signal from router 24 will be transmitted over a relatively long distance. During this long journey to prevent signal loss in the In order to prevent this, the 16-bit output line 32 and the 8-bit input line 34 are amplified before entering cable 40 and optically coupled at a planned receiving point. will be combined. The 16-bit signal plus strobe on the 16-bit output line 32 is amplified by driver stage 37 and in mask line driver/receiver 52. Optically coupled to the original combiner stage 42. From the slezo line driver/receiver 62 The 8-bit lines are routed to line driver stage 44 in mask line driver/receiver 52. Therefore, it is an amplified line, and the original connection in the computer line buffer 35 is They are optically combined at combiner stage #39.

In the typical case, each cage 8o has 20 multiplexers f22 and , a power supply 64, and a slave line driver/receiver 62. However, that Each cage 80 has 20 multiplexers in each cage 80. One I10 line from the mask line driver/receiver 52 to drive the line 22 Since path 54 is shared, the signal level must be increased. signal level This increase in signal is performed within each of the slezo line driver/receivers 62. .

Typically, each cage 8o has a wire wrap portion 72, which The multiplexer device 2 sampled at each position in the cage 8.0 by By attaching 2, this becomes possible. This immediately indicates that the multiplexer device 22 Identify how L (there is) in the entire plurality of multiplexer devices 22 and which of the multiplexer devices 22 is a single-ended structure. or a tuple-end structure.

A typical multiplexer device 22 is shown in FIG. Telephone line 12 is input 102.

This input circuit 102 connects the high voltage condition on the telephone line 12 to the multiplexer device 22. to and from multiplexer device 22. A low impedance path for the voice signal is provided. Therefore, a small DC leakage current can flow from telephone line 12 to multiplexer device 22, thereby An off-hook condition on line 12 can be detected.

Each of the telephone lines 12 is demultiplexed into one transmit/receive line 104. Ru. The transmit/receive line 104 also includes multiple Multiplexed to the appropriate telephone line by multiplexer stage 98. This processing equipment The configuration circuit 120 is commanded by the computer 24 or FIG. telephone line 12 Signals received or transmitted through the processor circuit 120 control It is switched by the transmit/receive switch 106 at the bottom.

Since a small amount of DC current leaks into the multiplexer device 22, the off-hook detector Circuit 108 has a large voltage drop from the voltage that would appear in the on-hook condition. By detecting this, an off-hook state can be detected.

The AC indication signal from instrument interface device 14 is transmitted to receiver circuit 150. It is processed. As in the preferred embodiment of instrument interface device 14, this The alternating current display signal is in the form of a series of pulses of a carrier whose pulse width is modulated. . Receiver 150 filters the display signals and pulses these display signals. positive with a pulse period proportional to the pulse period of the carrier pulse whose width is modulated. DC digital pulses. These digital pulses are processed by to circuit 120 for further decoding and extensive software filtering. will be carried out. Once decoded, the usage index and meter identification characters are It is sent to computer 24 as a binary digital word. If the AC display signal As in the case where the code is in another embodiment of the instrument interface device 14, the If the usage information is in the form of a dual tone signal, the receiver 150 transmits the usage information to a series of is decoded into digital words and this information is compiled through processing unit 120. is sent to the computer 24.

Multiplexer device 22 typically splits the interrogation signal between 300 Hz and 32 Hz. Sent as a tone burst of one frequency between 00 and 000 hertz. preferred practice In the example, processing unit 120 generates the interrogation signal. and 500 hertz, 8 10 Hz and 1270 Hz frequencies are fully operational in telephone company equipment. I found out. Each of these different frequencies is connected to a separate instrument input on the same line. interface device can be activated. Each instrument interface device can send usage data sequentially to many usage monitoring devices, and each It is possible to communicate usage data to many separate monitoring devices over multiple telephone lines. Ru. This embodiment has four meter interface devices per telephone line or has a capacity of 12 per telephone line. Tone bars generated in processor circuit 120 The amplitude of the signal is controlled by the processing device 120 within the D/A converter 112 . So This analog tone burst signal is then amplified and sent/received switch 106 and multiplexer stage 1198 to the appropriate telephone line 12. available.

Utility usage information from meter interface device 22 typically consists of a current utility usage index and a meter identification character. these are , the slave line driver/receiver 62, the master line driver/receiver 52, and the slave line driver/receiver 62. It is sent to the computer 24 through the computer line buffer 35.

Another instrument interface device Another embodiment of the instrument interface device 14 is shown in FIG. Figure 5 design The installation is based on the Xullman disclosed in U.S. Pat. n) type water meter interface, but as mentioned above, this meter interface The interface device 14 interfaces with virtually all utility monitoring devices. It can be used as This alternative embodiment of the instrument interface device 14 is the second embodiment of the instrument interface device 14. The difference from the example shown in the figure is that the meter switch of the Kullmann water meter is based on the meter dial scanning system. The row line 210 and the column line are scanned by the logic circuit 200. Each number of Kullmann water meters indicated by the switch position on path 220 For each value, DTMF transmitter 230 will send different dual tone signals. . These dual tone signals are then sent over telephone line 12.

Meter readout device 10 according to the present invention is capable of transmitting utility usage information and Previous theories have shown that it has the advantage of flexibility in receiving and It will be revealed. The processing unit 120 is processed by the receiver stage 150 of FIG. , can decode various forms of digital signals sent to it. .

Additionally, the instrument interface device 14 is compatible with various forms of utility monitoring equipment. interface, and the utility usage information can be decrypted. Can send AC display signals. As mentioned above, the present invention enables non-identical period data can be sent, received, and decoded.

The foregoing embodiments according to the invention are only for illustrating its principles and are is not meant to be limited to. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims and their scope. defined by the range that is equivalent to these.

Engraving of drawings (no changes to content) Submission of translation of written amendment (Eimitsu Article 184-7, Paragraph 1)

Claims (15)

[Claims] (1) Utility for sending utility usage information through multiple telephone lines a telephone reading device, the at least one interface device being connected to the telephone; coupled to each of the lines, and each of the interface devices has at least one said utility usage monitoring device coupled to one utility usage monitoring device; receives usage information from the monitoring device and from at least one of its separate telephone lines; upon receiving and responding to a clear AC interrogation signal through its separate telephone line. a plurality of interface devices that send out AC display signals of usage information; transmitting at least one distinct alternating current interrogation signal through each of the plurality of telephone lines; a device for transmitting the information, and a device for receiving the plurality of AC display signals of the usage information. a device; The AC display signal is used as data of usage information from one utility usage monitoring device. A device for converting into a plurality of digital display signals that are digital displays, and a plurality of digital display signals. The digital display signal is transmitted to an external digital display signal. Transmitted to interfacing device and a device for Utility meter reading device. (2) In claim 1, the interfacing device is an instrument interface device. ace device, the meter interface device connecting the meter interface device from the telephone line to the meter interface device. It has a device for supplying power to the Tough Ace device, and the instrument interface The base equipment draws a minimum amount of on-hook telephone line current, and said minimum amount of current is A unit that does not interfere with telephone lines that are on-hook while transmitting an AC display signal. -Taility meter reading device. (3) In claim 2, for sending at least one clear interrogation signal. a device for receiving a plurality of alternating current display signals, and the alternating current table. a device for converting a display signal into a digital display signal; and a device for converting a display signal into a digital display signal; a device for transmitting the information to an external digital interface device; Apparatus for storing at least one digital display signal in a digital display device A utility meter readout device having a transceiver device with. (4) In claim 3, the meter interface device is configured to display the AC display. The signal is a series of pulses of one audio tone whose pulse width is modulated and at least A utility meter that sends out pulses with two different pulse periods. reading device. (5) In claim 4, the AC display signal is transmitted to the transceiver device. A device for converting into a digital display signal is Pulse period duration of a series of pulses of one audio tone within the pulse period duration a device for obtaining a series of direct current/positive voltage pulses proportional to the duration of the sound; Within the duration of the transition time between the pulse periods of a series of pulses of the tone a utility having a device for obtaining a series of zero voltage transitions proportional to B Instrument readout device. (6) In claim 2, the meter interface device is configured such that the telephone line is A state in which no operation is possible within the instrument interface device when in an off-hook state. A utility meter reading device further comprising a device for making. (7) In claim 1, the interrogation signal is transmitted to a telephone line that is in an off-hook state. a utility meter reader, further having a device for preventing the utility meter from being sent through the Output device. (8) In claim 2, the alternating current from the meter interface device The display signal is a series of dual signals representing the utility usage index and meter identification characters. at least 12 different dual tone signals and different each of said dual tone signals having a numerical value between 0 and 9, including 0 and 9; A user representing a first framing sentinel and a second framing sentinel. -Tailiness meter reading device. (9) In claim 3, the transceiver device sends the the interrogation signal has one tone burst, said one tone being 300 Hz; A utility meter readout with a frequency between 3000 Hertz. (10) Claim 9, wherein the tone burst is 500 hertz; Utility having a frequency between 810 Hz and 1270 Hz Litei meter reading device. (11) In claim 4, the one audio tone is approximately 2000 Hz. A utility meter readout device having a frequency of . (12) at least one meter interface device coupled to each of the telephone lines; each of said instrument interface devices having at least one coupled to a utility usage monitoring device, said utility usage monitoring device; receives usage information from the device and at least one distinct telephone line from its separate telephone line; said use through its separate telephone line in response to receiving an alternating interrogation signal; said coupling transmitting an alternating display signal of information; transmitting at least one distinct alternating current interrogation signal through each of the plurality of telephone lines; transmitting, and receiving a plurality of AC display signals of the usage information; The AC display signal is used as data of usage information from one utility usage monitoring device. converting into a plurality of digital display signals that are digital displays; Transmitting digital display signals to external digital interfacing devices Sending utility usage information through multiple telephone lines with each step between and method for. (13) In claim 12, the AC display signal is pulse width modulated. transmits a utility signal through multiple telephone lines with a series of pulses of a single audio tone. How to send retail information. (14) In claim 12, the AC display signal is a series of dual signals. each of said dual tones is a small number between 0 and 9, including 0 and 9. At least one numerical value, a first framing sentinel, and a second framing sentinel. Utility usage information is sent through multiple lines representing sentinels. Method. (15) In claim 13, the AC display signal is displayed on the digital display. said step of converting into a signal a pulse period of a series of pulses of said one audio tone; It is possible to obtain a series of positive voltage pulses whose duration is proportional to the pulse period duration. Toto, the duration of the transition time between the pulse periods of a series of pulses of said one audio tone; each step having a series of proportional zero voltage transitions in duration. , A method of transmitting utility usage information over multiple telephone lines.